PHNajak

photo by kingsnake.com user MXHerper of a coral snake Micrurus laticollaris

We all know the rhyme, the one that has caused consternation to many an experienced herper but is just so catchy it sticks around. Red touch yellow, kill a fellow, red touch black, venom lack. Variations occur, but all of them are equally flawed. Plenty of highly venomous coral snakes across the western hemisphere fail to pay heed to that little saying, how rude.